Planning for a New Community Center

Our Community, Our Center

For decades, community members have expressed the need for a community center in Owatonna. In 2022, the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department sought community feedback to develop the Park Master Plans. Once again, community members ranked a community center as their highest priority.

In response to community members’ feedback, the City has launched Our Community, Our Center, a facilities planning process to explore options for building a new community center.

Community Survey

In June 2024, City staff completed the first step in this process with a community survey. The survey asked community members to identify the amenities and activities most desired in a community center. 740 community members responded to the survey, contributing almost 700 ideas.

Survey participants expressed a desire for a safe, accessible space for children, teenagers and adults to stay active and socialize.

The highest priorities included:

  • Year-round recreation opportunities through indoor playgrounds, gyms, sports courts and event spaces. 

  • Aquatic facilities with year-round opportunities for exercise, swim lessons and general enjoyment. 

  • Services and facilities that appeal to youth, children and families including childcare options and inclusive play areas. 

  • Fitness and wellness spaces including a fitness center, walking track and classes offered at various times to accommodate different schedules. 

  • Multi-purpose spaces for meetings, cultural events and community activities and gatherings.

Community Center Task Force

Resident feedback is essential in the facilities planning process for a new community center. In July 2024, the City formed a Community Center Task Force to help guide the planning process and ensure community input is at the center of this project. 

The Task Force comprises community members representing different backgrounds, experiences and interests across the community. It includes community members, City Council members and representatives from the Owatonna School District, Steele County and Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. City staff and external consultants provide support for the Task Force's work. 

The Task Force is currently in a planning phase. In early 2025, Task Force members toured eight community centers, observing a wide range of amenities, features, gathering spaces and programs. These visits offered valuable opportunities to learn from existing models, ask questions, and understand how different spaces serve their communities. Based on these insights, the Task Force is working together to evaluate possible design features to ensure a new facility would support residents of all ages while balancing cost and long-term value for the community.

“The City of Owatonna is committed to a collaborative and transparent process as we explore building a new community center. A task force made up of community members, along with various opportunities for public input, will help guide the City’s planning process to ensure our decisions reflect the needs of our community.” - Jenna Tuma, Assistant City Administrator

What’s Next?

Over the next year or so, the Community Center Task Force will help develop a vision and strategic goals for the community center. Other works includes assessing features and amenities, exploring potential site locations, evaluating costs getting input from community members and assessing community impact.  

This planning process will envision a space that reflects what community members most desire in a community center, promotes the health and wellbeing of people of all ages and provides a place for learning, socializing and connecting in the community.

Your Voice Matters!

The City of Owatonna is committed to a community-led process as it explores building a new community center. All community members will have opportunities to share their input and feedback throughout the planning process. The City plans to conduct a community survey and host an open house later this year. In the meantime, community members can ask questions or share their feedback through this Connect Form.

How do I get involved?

City leadership is dedicated to keeping community members informed and engaged in the community center planning process. Visit this website for ongoing updates on this project and information on community engagement opportunities. 

Community members are encouraged to use the Connect Form to ask questions and share feedback.